Saturday, June 26, 2010

More and more Dutch Jews are leaving the country of their birth for a safe haven elsewhere. That, in short, is the message of an article by Charles Sanders in the Telegraaf newspaper and a related piece by Jeroen Langelaar in Elsevier magazine in the Netherlands.

[Translation: “Large parts of the city (Amsterdam) are no longer safe for us, it’s a matter of time before the first victims occur”, said professor Herman Loonstein, in the Saturday edition of the Telegraaf’.]

According to Hirsch Ballin, former minister of Justice and current minister for the interior in the decommissioned Dutch government, the Jews just have to report their victimhood more often - if there is any anti-Semitism in Holland, it is up to them to let the authorities know. He himself disagrees with the idea that there has been any noticeable increase.

[Translation: In the Second Chamber, Hirsch Ballin postulated that Jews have to complain more if they are victims of anti-Semitism. He finds it difficult to discern a trend - figures apparently do not indicate any increase.]

This is flatly contradicted by the Centre independent Jewish watchdog group CIDI, which calls the ministers statement utter balderdash.

[Translation: The Centre for Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI) considers the explanation of the minister unacceptably base. "He bases this on the Antidiscrimination Bureau Amsterdam, which nota bene declared that cases of anti-Semitism have increased more than any other kind of discrimination".]

Recent CIDI figures show a disturbing increase in serious incidents, almost always perpetrated by Euro-Arabs.

["Bijna altijd zijn jonge Marokkanen de aanstichters. Het aantal gemelde incidenten groeide vorig jaar met 55 procent tot 167 gevallen." (Almost always it is young Moroccans who are the offenders. The number of incident-complaints rose last year by 55% to 167 cases'). - De Telegraaf, third paragraph of cited article.]

THE TELEGRAAF ARTICLE

As usual, the commentary underneath the Telegraaf article, by the salt of the earth, shows a remarkable level of bias, pooh-pooing, denialism, and outright Jew-hate. Several comments have been removed because they were unacceptable, EVEN to the famously tolerant editors of that newspaper.

Readers said that the CIDI figures had been tweaked by orders of the Israeli government, that it was the Jews' own fault, that it was justified because of Israeli behaviour towards the Palestinians, and that in any case it was perfectly understandable and normal.

This statement, by reader Luuk in Groningen, is indicative of attitudes among the Dutch: "Laat de Joodse belangenorganisatie's hun thuisland Israël maar eens op de vingers tikken over de discriminatie van Palestijnen. Geen wonder dat er steeds meer mensen een hekel krijgen aan Joden" ('Better the Jewish interest groups should criticise their home country Israel over the discrimination of Palestinians. No wonder that more and more people have started despising Jews').

Note here the combination of several ideas: Jews are foreigners in the Netherlands (where they have been for centuries), Jews are to blame for what Israel does, Jews in Europe belong in Israel but also don't belong in Israel because it belongs to the Palestinians (!), and it is both natural and good to despise Jews. The contradictions and conflation in his thinking is largely typical of European muddle-headedness - as is the repulsive quality of his opinion.

Several readers postulated that Amsterdam Jews should loudly demonstrate against Israel and the misbehavior of their own people.If they didn't do so, then they deserved to be hated and discriminated.

A few reactions were from Jews relating incidents - largely outnumbered by anti-Israel vituperation.

Several others showed a marked racism towards Arabs, loathing of politicians, hatred of Islam, and general European xenophobia, as well as completely bagatellizing the issue and expressing politically correct Dutch sentiments - 'if Israel was destroyed, there wouldn't be any problem, the Holy Land was stolen by Jews from Arabs in any case. Foreigners (by which was meant native-born non-Germanics) were despicable and both Arabs and Jews should just shut up!'

THE ELSEVIER ARTICLE

What bothers many of Amsterdam's Jewish citizens especially is the behaviour of the police, who refuse to act, and usually do nothing. Given that the Dutch police are primarily an extension of the infamous Dutch governmental bureaucracy, that is not surprising - this author has had reason to complain about official apathy while living in the Netherlands - but professor Herman Loonstein particularly mentioned an incident in Buitenveldert where a Jewish man was pelted with eggs, and the Amsterdam police flat-out refused to pursue the matter.

"Nope, if you-all ain't got photos of the perps, we ain't gonna do jack"

Even Job Cohen (former mayor of Amsterdam, now important national politician) has no interest in Jewish problems, and prefers to go and express his sympathy to Moroccans whenever there have been anti-Islamic incidents. The departure of Jews from Amsterdam because of discrimination, according to professor Loonstein, is a non-issue for Cohen.

He reports that many Jews are emigrating to England and Israel to rebuild the peaceful and safe life they once knew in Amsterdam.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

In a June 17 letter to the editor of the J weekly Berkeley's Carol Sanders of Bay Area Women in Black and Jewish Voice for Peace complains about her treatment when she showed up to protest the day schools, summer camps, artists and falafel vendors of "Israel in the Gardens".

Was poor Carol expecting sympathy from the parents who had to push strollers through her protest to their watch children perform on stage? She didn't get any.Read what the commenters to her letter to the J have to say:

From DanBut when it comes to creating anti-Israel fiction, I must admit that Carol takes a back seat only to her husband, Colonel Sanders, who is forever accusing Israel supporters of “fowl play.”

From Sol:So why so much contempt for BAWIB & JVP? Well maybe it’s because they can always be found marching side by side with those who portray Israel with Nazi Germany and proudly wave the flags of Hamas and Hezbollah. Maybe it’s because when Hamas fires rockets into Sderot BWIB & JVP calls it self defense and when Israel attempts to enforce a blockade to keep weapons away from Hamas they call that war crimes.

From RfaelmosheOrganizations such as Women In Black and “Jewish” Voice for Peace, are fake peace groups that often stand next to groups that openly support terror against Israel. These groups have held mock public Jewish religious ceremonies (“taschlich”) condemning Israel, which is as offensive as an antebellum minstrel show to many of us.

From ssholin:What was offensive was that Jews who came together with their families and friends to celebrate Israel’s existence had to be confronted with the constant drivel and hostility towards Israel by BAWIB and JVP who were harassing people entering the festival.

From CadanceMNot that long ago, Carol and her friends in Women in Black sponsored Gilad Atzmon, a notorious anti-Semite, as a fundraiser for the International Solidarity Movement. And yet she still wonders why she gets no respect from the local Jewish community. Maybe respect needs to be earned, Carol, and you’ve just realized how far outside the tent of the community you’ve placed yourself.

The only problem was that they picketed the wrong ship. It wasn’t an Israeli ship, but a Chinese ship. The Israeli ship didn’t arrive till evening.

QUOTE:“Some 500 anti-Israel protestors arrived at the Oakland, California port early Sunday morning, hoping to block an Israeli ship from unloading its cargo. However, the ship did not arrive, and the crowd prevented workers from unloading a Chinese ship instead.”

Proving that longshoremen aren't stupid, the dockworkers decided not to endanger themselves by tackling with the rabble.

QUOTE:"Free, free Palestine! Don't cross the picket line!" the picketers shouted – and in fact, the longshoremen chose not to clash with them, for fear of “getting into fistfights,” a union leader said. No one was arrested."

Smart move. Some of Dick Becker's cronies are undoubtedly diseased, in addition to being dim.

THE FEW

What's also very amusing is the varied reportage of the numbers. According to one article on Indymedia, over a thousand protestors showed up.One thousand angry people. At five thirty in the morning. To protest an Israeli ship. Which wasn't there.

Pretty much the same source then avers that it was five hundred people. Or three hundred.

QUOTE 1: " This morning was the first half of a victory. 1,000 picketers from around the SF Bay. The first shift for unloading the Israeli ZIM Line ship was cancelled. "

QUOTE 2: " Just left the Oakland Docks where 300 people are blocking the entrances to two gates into the berth where the Israeli Zim cargo ship is to be unloaded. The action started this morning at 5:30am PST. The longshore workers are scheduled to start their shift at 7:00 and 8:00 am this morning. "

Please note the Turkish flags. It would be interesting to find out whether the Bay Arae anti-Israel crowd now also has links to the Turkish government, in addition to their connections to Hamas, Hezbollah, as well as reported funding from the Saudis and Qatar, inter alia.

Most of the signs carried by the protestors were provided by International ANSWER (tel. 415-821-6545).

[Non-union disruption of legitimate commerce sponsored by: Labor/Community Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People: Arab American Union Members Council, ANSWER- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, Palestine Youth Network, US Palestine Community Network, Al Awda- Right to Return Coalition, Arab Youth Organization, MECA-Middle East Children's Alliance, SJP-Students for Justice in Palestine, AROC-Arab Resource and Organizing Center, ISM-International Solidarity Movement, San Jose Peace and Justice Center, International Socialist Organization, Peace and Freedom Party – SF & Contra Costa Counties, Transport Workers Solidarity Committee, Bay Area US Labor Against the War, Bay Area Committee for Peace and Justice, Barrio Unido, Movement for Unconditional Amnesty for All Immigrant Workers, National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupation, Friends of Deir Ibzi’a, Socialist Viewpoint, FMLN in Northern California, San Jose Justice for Palestinians, Code Pink – SF, World Can’t Wait – SF, International Action Center, Uhuru Solidarity Movement, Skyline Against Cuts, Industrial Workers of the World – SF, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Social Justice Committee, Party for Socialism and Liberation, QUIT!- Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism, Fred Hirsch, Executive Board Member of Plumbers & Fitters Local 393 & Delegate to South Bay Labor Council, Progressive Democrats of the East Bay, La Voz de los Trabaja-dores, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism – No. Calif., National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, and many labor activists in the Bay Area, and others. ]

Among the organizers, which also included all the usual Jew-haters, one group deserves especial notice: The Transport Workers Solidarity Committee - members of ILWU #34, 10, and 6. They include Railroad workers, Airline Mechanics , and Inboatmens Union, Ferry and Tug sailors affilated to the ILWU and the West Coast merchant seamen union.

Apparently none of these people actually knew when what boat was arriving where.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

In a new low for Indybay, a website known for its inaccuracy and bias, attendance at an anti-Israel protest at the Oakland docks was misreported 3 times in the same article. Indybay claimed over 1,000 ,then 500 then 300 protesters in the same article. Click on the screen shot to see "independent reporting" at its personal best.
Streaming video and still shots show about 75 protesters.

Yep, folks. Its a "historic" action, indeed. Imagine getting 75 protesters out of bed early on a Sunday morning without even their morning latte.

UPDATE

The protesters are now calling for another action at 4:00 pm. Hampered not only by deficiencies in basic counting, but in rudimentary online research as well, they have only just learned that the Zim Shenzhen is delayed in getting into Oakland. When do you think they'll figure out thats its flying under a UK flag?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

The LGBT International Film Festival opened Thursday June 17 at San Francisco's beautiful Castro theater. In addition to the expected huge lines, there was an unusual twist. There were protesters. No, it wasn't the Westboro Community Church, but rather QUIT (Queers doing something regarding Israel- does anyone remember what their acronym stands for anyway?). QUIT was upset that the film festival had the audacity to allow the Israeli consulate to endorse the festival, and formed a picket line claiming “There is no justification for queer institutions to ignore this request for solidarity.” Yet not a single person honored their picket.

QUIT calls Israeli sponsorship of the festival "pinkwashing", claiming the Israeli government uses its liberal policies on gay rights to deflect external criticism. Why does Israel's progressive record on gay rights upset gay activists? Perhaps its because they keep wanting to frame Israel as a right wing theocracy, when it just refuses to fit into that mold.

Israel remains one of the most progressive countries in the world on LGBT issues and QUIT just doesn't want you to know this. But luckily, the intrepid activists from San Francisco Voice for Israel were there.

From the SF voice for Israel handout:LGBT Rights in Israel:* Gays have had full civil rights since 1992* Gays have full rights to serve in the military* Gays have partner adoption rights* Gays have partner benefits for governmental employees* Same gender marriages preformed abroad are recognized.

LGBT Pride in Israel* The first transgender person to win the Eurovison contest was Israeli Dana International with her song "Diva".* Openly gay singer Ivri Lidder is one of Israel's most popular entertainers.* Openly gay movie producer Eytan Fox has created such popular movies Yossi and Jagger, Walk on Water and The Bubble* Openly gay politicians have served in the Kenneset and on many local councils.

Just as the LGBT community wants equality, Israel strives for equality amongst the family of nations. Israel must be treated as an equal in the United nations. Israel must be treated fairly by the international news media, and must be recognized by its neighbors with normalized relations. With this in mind, San Francisco Voice for Israel will be marching again in the San Francisco pride parade on June 27, celebrating not just Israel's progressive record in LGBT rights, but acknowledging Israel's striving for equality in a very judgmental world.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Infant mortality is significantly lower in Gaza (17.71 per 1,000 live births) than in Iran (34.7), Turkey (24.8), Libya (20.87), Iraq (43.16), and Egypt (26.2), and only slightly higher than that of Jordan (17.03), Syria (16.14), and Lebanon (16.4).

However, these facts are UNKNOWN or UNAVAILABLE to CBC correspondent Peter Mansbridge, who on June 1 asserted that Gaza currently has "an infant mortality rate among the highest in the world."

It is unclear what led Peter Mansbridge to this odd conclusion - perhaps he was talking to an activist at a cocktail party, or reading one of the handouts from an anti-Israel rally. Conceivably his informant was a student or professor at York University in Toronto....... where anti-Israel agitation and misinformation is rife.

"An infant mortality rate among the highest in the world!"

My dear mister Mansbridge, you do know that you need to do your research before you state something as fact, don't you? Especially when an egregious falsehood might be construed as slander?Perhaps even riling up the rabble for riot-mode?

Do the words 'due diligence' and 'substantiation' mean something to you?

I hope they do...... please ask your handlers at CBC to either paste them all over your basement or tattoo them on your forehead.

Or you could request that the biased assistant or editor who inserted that blatant bit of propaganda in your script be assigned elsewhere - I suggest Pakistan or Afghanistan; places with shockingly high infant mortality rates.

Does that mean cold chickens?Truly sadistic. Inhumane. Brutal. Genocidal.Cold chicken in the desert.This cannot be. Quick. Form a vigil at Barbara Lees office.Write Letters to the editor.Vandalize Israeli food.Ignore the 2,000 Uzbeckis killed this week and the 400,000 fleeing for their lives.There are cold chickens in Gaza.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The SF Board of Supervisors has not yet taken up the anti-Israel resolution on the agenda; more pro-Israel speakers are needed. This debate will likely last well into the evening.

San Francisco City Hall is located on Van Ness between McAllister and Grove Streets. If coming by BART or Muni, use the Civic Center station.

The anti-Israel crowd is present in great numbers, and are using the same tactics that they used at the Berkeley University meetings.

"There are more keffiyehs here than in the shuk"

Show up and make your voice heard!

As usual-- please remember that you are addressing the Board of Supervisors, not the audience. Be polite, be focused, be an effective advocate.Speeches will be limited to 2 minutes or less, so please plan what you are going to say. The JCRC staff will have talking points available to help you.

If the anti-Israel resolution passes, G-d forbid, this will affect not only the city's economic climate, but also future Democratic Party politics. In these hard times, neither of those eventualities is desireable. Daly and Avalos may not grasp the damage that they are doing, but I am sure that others are more sane, more rational, and more concerned with the image of our city than those two.

Monday, June 14, 2010

According to the Jewish Federation of Orange County, The University of California at Irvine (UC Irvine) has suspended the Muslim Student Union (MSU) for one year and placed it on disciplinary probation for an additional year. The MSU is also required to collectively complete 50 hours of community service. As a result, it will not be allowed to conduct organized campus events until at least the fall of 2011.

According to a UCI campus document, suspension means that the recognition of the MSU organization has been revoked. No current executive officer listed on the Dean of Students registration application form will be allowed to act as an “authorized signer” for any other student organization at UC Irvine during the suspension. The effective dates pertaining to the suspension are from September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011.

This action is the direct result of a campaign of hate,incitement and intimidation organized by the MSA against Zionists and Jewish students on campus. According to Roz Rothstein of Stand with Us:

The Muslim Student Union (MSU) and Muslim Student Association (MSA), allied with extremist groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), focus single-mindedly on one goal: demonizing Israel. This is not your normal student activism. MSU and MSA members are obsessively driven by their mission. They are determined, methodical, focused, well-funded and strictly organized. The leaders are usually devout and infuse religious and moral justifications into the movement, making hatred of Israel akin to a religious as well as social justice cause.The MSU, MSA and SJP groups don’t just plan actions for their own schools. SJP and the 600 MSU/MSA chapters across North America use the Internet to coordinate their anti-Israel strategies and to share their best practices. They exchange anti-Israel propaganda. They share fliers, props and slogans. They analyze what was effective and refine their tactics and execution for the upcoming year.

On February 8, 2010, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren visited the Orange County, California campus to give a talk to UCI students and community members. During the 90-minute event, Oren was repeatedly interrupted by members of the Muslim Student Union, 11 of whom were arrested. One of those arrested was the president of the MSU at UCI. The investigation of this incident revealed the Muslim Student Union’s organized plot to prevent Oren from delivering his presentation.

The MSU brought fringe speakers to the campus, including Malik Ali,a radical Islamic preacher whose primary goal is the overthrow of the American government and its replacement with an Islamic dictatorship. He declared during a campus speech just steps from the UC Irvine administration building, “Ya’ll (Jews) are the new Nazi’s.” Ali also confirmed his public support for terrorist organizations Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad.

The disciplinary action taken involving 11 students arrested was not disclosed because of laws meant to protect their privacy

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Jewish Voice for Peace, the “Proud to be Ashamed to be Jewish “ arm of the movement to delegitimitze Israel has long attempted without success to make inroads into the New York Jewish community. On June 10 JVP and Adalah held a meeting at Judson Church (knowing full well that no synagogue or Jewish community center would agree to host them) 28 people attended. Of that group, a half dozen were committed Zionists

JVP is at the forefront of the US boycott, sanctions and divestment movement seeking to economically socially and cultural isolate the only democracy in the Middle East. Boasting of their growth and support, they have claimed 100,000 “members” on their e-mail subscription list, 30,000 who have contributed money and 10,000 who are "core". The New York group remains limited to 10-15 active members. (Hmm, Rebecca, of the 1,600,000 million Jews in New York, sure doesn’t seem like your movement is meeting with a great deal of success)JVP used the Judson Church venue to launch their latest scheme. Tiaa Cref is one of the largest financial services in the U.S. and one of the largest pension funds in the world with over $400 Billion dollars invested. The hope of the JVP plan (estimated to take 3-5 years to implement ) is that they might create a domino effect with other companies involved in business within Israel.

The lucky companies that will be the focus of JVP;s attention include:1. VEOLIA (French company -124 M.) 2. ELBIT (Israeli company- 2.1 million)This company manufactures surveillance equipment for the Separation Wall (security fence). It was mentioned that they are also providing equipment for the border in New Mexico and Arizona. 3. NORTHROP GRUMMAN (U.S. company- 177M.)This company manufactures parts for the Apache helicopters and F-16’s “used against civilians in Gaza”.4. CATEPILLAR (U.S. company- 216.M)This company manufactures bulldozers according to IDF specs5. Motorola (111M)This company provides communication for the IDF and the security fence.6. ALON USA, a subsidiary of the ALON GROUP, through its subsidiary DOR ALON, holds the monopoly to the gas supplied to GazaTIAA-CREF has $500 million invested in these companies.

JVP’s plan ? They are starting with a petition, and are hoping to have 10,000 signatures by the end of the year; with at least half TIAA-CREF investors. The primary target will be Universities and professors.And of course, there will be a “civil rights” theme, with JVP and its allies claiming these six companies role in the “occupation” act together to deprive the Palestinians of the right to education and access to health care. They’d be neglecting the fact that under Israel’s “brutal and genocidal occupation”:

Lucky Tiaa Cref has received the attention of the BDS crowd before, when routine reallocation of assets was touted to be yet another victory for divestment:

And yes, JVP, there will be opposition. You can count on it. People of good will and integrity reject BDS and know that the real path of peace is more economic ties, more cultural ties, more social ties between people, and that JVP’s latest attempt to isolate the only democracy in the Middle East is again doomed to failure

A new Reut institute study claims: The BDS Movement Promotes Delegitimization of the State of Israel. Frankly, that's not exactly news. Last March I had written "Let's Talk about BDS" that made exactly the same point. But they go into great detail in a very valuable document. Here is the main part of the study. Extensive quotes make it impossible to claim that BDS is about "Peace" or "ending the occupation." It is about ending Zionism, about genocide of the Jewish people. The organizers say so, in their own words. Here is a sample:

In an article entitled 'Our South Africa Moment has Arrived,' Omar Barghouti writes that, "The conceptual origins of Israel's unique form of apartheid are found in Zionism, a racist European ideology that was adopted by the dominant stream of the Zionist movement in order to justify and recruit political support for its colonial project of establishing an exclusive Jewish state in historic Palestine." (Scottish PSC, 03/19/09).

Dr. Haider Eid, lecturer at Al Aqsa University in Gaza and activist for the one-state solution ,argues that, "With pressure imposed by the international community through a BDS campaign a la anti-Apartheid campaign which brought Apartheid South Africa to an end, we believe that Israel itself can be transformed into a secular democratic state after the return of 6 million Palestinian refugees who were ethnically cleansed in 1948, a state for ALL of its citizens…therefore, we think that one of the major tools of the struggle towards a secular democratic state is BDS."

People have fought YouTube censorship bravely. There are now a number of copies of the original "We con the world" video posted at YouTube. I didn't think that much of it, but now that it is an issue of free speech, we all have to spread the word as best we can. Here's one:

Saturday, June 12, 2010

In a move of staggering audacity, Youtube has removed the song “We con the world” by the Israeli satirical team Latma, claiming that copyright issues were involved. We call bullpucky on this – the FAIR USE DOCTRINE (US Copyright Office) specifically allows use of copyrighted material in parody. And given that the song in question (‘we are the world’ – by a bunch of self-righteous putzes) has been parodied, copied, spoofed, and made fun of so many times, in ways too numerous to detail, the Youtube (Google) action can only raise the suspicion (meaning: darn well certain assertion) that this equates to censorship, possibly motivated by base motives.

“The truth will never find its way to your tv!”

Here is the LATMA statement about this foul move:

[QUOTE]This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Warner/ Chappell Music, Inc. .

Copyright experts we advised with before posting the song told us in no uncertain terms that we were within our rights to use the song because we did so in accordance with the Fair Use Doctrine. The Fair Use Doctrine, copied and pasted below from the US Copyright Office stipulates that it is legal and permissible to use copyrighted material under the fair use doctrine for purposes of parody.

Copyright attorneys also warned us that given our clearly lawful use of the song We are the World, if anyone wished to silence our voices, they wouldn't target us. Instead they would target YouTube. It is YouTube's standard practice to remove any material that they receive even the flimsiest threat for because the company wishes to avoid all litigation.

At the same time, this is not YouTube's first move to silence Israeli voices. During Operation Cast Lead, the IDF Spokesman's Unit established a YouTube channel and began posting combat footage on its channel to bypass the anti-Israel media and go directly to news consumers.Shortly after the IDF channel began making waves, YouTube - which is owned by Google - removed IDF videos from the website. After the move evoked a storm of protest, YouTube restored them but flagged the videos in the same manner it flags pornography. People trying to access the videos received a screen saying, "This video or group may contain content that is inappropriate for some users, as flagged by YouTube's user community. To view this video or group please verify that you are 18 or older by singing in and signing up."

If YouTube didn't already have a track record for censoring pro-Israel material, I would say that despite the obviously frivolous and unsubstantiated nature of the copyright claim against We Con the World, the company was simply erring on the side of caution.

The fact that more than 3 million people have already seen the video and that it has been written up in major newspapers and featured on major television networks around the world since we first posted it last Thursday night however causes me to fear that something else is going on here.

Despite these obstacles, we at Latma have no intention of crying Uncle. By tomorrow, we will repost our song on blogs throughout the world. If you already downloaded the song, please post it on your website. If not, I will post a non-youtube version on my site tomorrow with instructions from my webmaster about how to download it.

Moreover, stay tuned for our next video next Thursday night.

If someone is in fact trying to silence our voices, they will soon discover that they are messing with the wrong Jews.

"One of the rights accorded to the owner of copyright is the right to reproduce or to authorize others to reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords. This right is subject to certain limitations found in sections 107 through 118 of the copyright law (title 17, U. S. Code). One of the more important limitations is the doctrine of "fair use." The doctrine of fair use has developed through a substantial number of court decisions over the years and has been codified in section 107 of the copyright law.

Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which the reproduction of a particular work may be considered fair, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Section 107 also sets out four factors to be considered in determining whether or not a particular use is fair:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes

2. The nature of the copyrighted work

3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole

4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work

The distinction between fair use and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission.

Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.

The 1961 Report of the Register of Copyrights on the General Revision of the U.S. Copyright Law cites examples of activities that courts have regarded as fair use: "quotation of excerpts in a review or criticism for purposes of illustration or comment; quotation of short passages in a scholarly or technical work, for illustration or clarification of the author's observations; use in a parody of some of the content of the work parodied; summary of an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news report;reproduction by a library of a portion of a work to replace part of a damaged copy; reproduction by a teacher or student of a small part of a work to illustrate a lesson; reproduction of a work in legislative or judicial proceedings or reports; incidental and fortuitous reproduction, in a newsreel or broadcast, of a work located in the scene of an event being reported."

Copyright protects the particular way an author has expressed himself. It does not extend to any ideas, systems, or factual information conveyed in the work.The safest course is always to get permission from the copyright owner before using copyrighted material. The Copyright Office cannot give this permission.

When it is impracticable to obtain permission, use of copyrighted material should be avoided unless the doctrine of fair use would clearly apply to the situation. The Copyright Office can neither determine if a certain use may be considered fair nor advise on possible copyright violations. If there is any doubt, it is advisable to consult an attorney.

Surely you can decide your own brain-content? Do you really need a bunch of corporate weasels telling you what you can or cannot hear? Do you really think that Silicon Valley types (yoga, wheat-germ, crystal healing, no dairy, and similar self-importance boosting fluff) are in any position to dictate your thoughts?

Watch the video!

-----------------------------------------------------------------Please note: all links above were included in the interest of both fairness and providing substantiation for the opinion(s) cited above. So also the half quotes around the word 'censored' - like all true-blue Americans, we quake at the prospect of our corporate leaders (Google, et al) being pissed at us, and sending a troupe of trained assassin-gibbons to whack us. Honestly. Content is the property of the respective copyright owners (Google, Youtube, Google, IHH, World Con, Google, Erdogan, Google, Caroline Glick, Google, Latma TV, Google, Violent Provocateurs, possibly also Turkey, plus Friends of Hamas, and the already mentioned SRP's - and Google), we're just here to let you form your own, corporate-approved, opinions.Did I already mention the half-quotes around the word 'censored'?-----------------------------------------------------------------NOTES:

From Wikipedia: "Fair use and fair dealing - Copyright does not prohibit all copying or replication. In the United States, the fair use doctrine, codified by the Copyright Act of 1976 as 17 U.S.C. § 107, permits some copying and distribution without permission of the copyright holder or payment to same. The statute does not clearly define fair use, but instead gives four non-exclusive factors to consider in a fair use analysis. Those factors are:1.the purpose and character of the use;2.the nature of the copyrighted work;3.the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and4.the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

-----------------------------------------------------------------Please note again: the cited links are included in the interest of both fairness and providing substantiation. We would not want to be found wanting by pinstripers in any of this, as we respect and love them for their attempts to shield us, always, from opinions which might upset us. Or upset European socialists and 'Homicidal Middle-Eastern Religious Fanatics'™, who we have been lead to believe, ARE AN IMPORTANT DEMOGRAPHIC!!!Until the Europeans declare bankruptcy, like all loyal drones, we will respect their purchasing power, and as for the 'Homicidal Middle-Eastern Religious Fanatics'™, we are keenly aware how important that market is, too.Did I already mention the half-quotes thing?-----------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, June 11, 2010

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) describes itself as a diverse and democratic community of activists inspired by Jewish tradition to work together for peace, social justice, and human rights, supporting the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians for security and self-determination. They seek "an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem" and oppose Israel Defense Forces operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

In practice, Jewish Voice for Peace is a pro-Palestinian group nominally composed of Jews. They are co-enablers and fellow-travelers of the more rabid anti-Israel activists and organizations, apologists for the excesses of both the pro-Palestinians as well as Hamas.

Their members usually stand with SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine), Women in Black, Codepink, and International A.N.S.W.E.R. at anti-Israel rallies here in the Bay Area.

Given their (JVP's) presence at protests where the other pro-Palestinians chanted "ba ruh ba dam nafdeek ya Falastin" ('with our souls and our blood we will redeem you oh Palestine' - reflecting the desire to stake their lives, and implicitly swearing to use violence), "itbach al Yahud" ('slaughter the Jews'), "kahybar khabar ya yahud, jaish-e Muhammad saya'ud" ('Khaybar Khabar, oh Jews, the gang of Muhammad will return!'), "Falastin bladna wa'l Yahud kalabna" ('Palestine is OUR land and the Jews are our dogs'), "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" (say, ain't there a country called Israel in between?), "down down Israel" (um, I guess that's pretty clear, huh?), and where speaker after speaker advocated the destruction of Israel, the expulsion of Jews from the land (and, once even, from Oakland), spoke about sending the Israelis back to Russia, and so on and so forth, those 'Jews' in JVP have absolutely NO plausible deniability.

They have stood side by side with people screaming for murder, ethnocide, and the violent overthrow of both the Israeli government and the US government.

Solidarity be damned, they need to be judged on their causes and their comrades.

BERKELEYITE SKUNKS

Many of their members also overlap into other organizations, such as the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, the Arab Resource Organizing Committee, Students for Justice in Palestine (rabidly anti-Israel AND venomous, despite the Jews who are members), the ISM, Meca, and others. Plus of course QUIT and BAWIB - also ennablers and apologists.

Not only do many of these organizations and individuals oppose the policies of the Israeli government, they oppose the very existence of Israel. The only Israel they will even consider is a rump-state, without Jerusalem, without Galilea, without the Negev, and without the Golan. Many even argue that Tel Aviv needs to be returned.

In their eyes, terrorism is justified as the natural response of the repressed natives, both righteous and perfect, and quibbling about Jewish civilian deaths is merely a form of racism and Nazism.

Several of them advocate a socialist paradise in lieu of two states, the complete return of anyone who ever called himself a Palestinian Arab, and the repatriation of American and Russian Jews. Some even argue that only Middle-Eastern Jews should be allowed to remain, and that the official language be Arabic only.

JVP'ers will happily stand with supporters of murder and terrorism, basking in the glow of solidarity and self-righteousness.

Like many organizations composed of hypocrites and weasels, their name does not betray their loathsomeness - that only comes with exposure to their methods and their street-side rhetoric.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

On June 9th, 2010, San Francisco City Supervisors John Avalos, David Campos, Chris Daly and Sophie Maxwell introduced a resolution savagely condemning Israel’s interdiction of the Gaza Flotilla, and calling for President Obama to work to end the "siege on Gaza".

It's up for a vote by the board next week: Tuesday June 15th, 2PM - 4PM.

Meddling in international affairs is typical of San Francisco.But if San Francisco is going to rampage all over the purview of the US State Department, surely the SF Board of Supervisors should be aware that there might be consequences?

As a future voter in David Chiu's district, I have an interest in seeing him do the right thing.

Here's the contact data of our supervisors.If you call them, be polite to the phone-staff and MAKE SURE that they will take the message.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Here's a take on Helen Thomas which is refreshingly new - Helen Thomas succinctly stated what much of the world feels about Jews. By doing so, she has made it clear what Israel is up against, and she has given renewed life to the fundament and raison d'être of the Jewish state.

FROM ZIONATION:

[QUOTE]Veteran reporter Helen Thomas uttered only a few words. She said that Jews should "“get the hell out of Palestine” and go home to “Poland, Germany and America and everywhere else.”

It is an elegant, truthful, concise and accurate summary of the ideology and goals of the "humanitarians" who support the cause of the Hamas. It cut through the reams of self-righteous and evasive obfuscation about the real goals of the anti-Israel and anti-Zionist campaign. This is what it is really all about. Boycotts, blockades, apartheid slogans, negotiations, complaints based on bogus international "legitimacy" are all a smokescreen to cover up that simple goal.

Thomas's utterance was only a part of the truth perhaps, because the whole truth is too unpalatable for decent people to swallow. The unknown voice on the Turkish "freedom flotilla" who told the Israel Navy, "Shut up! Go back to Auschwitz!" was probably closer to the actual spirit of these "humanitarians." The idea is about the same though. [End quote]

Philip Weiss, apologist for the anti-Israel side, attempted to ‘re-interpret’ her statements.In an echo of the immortal words ‘what the president MEANT to say’ uttered so many years ago by a White House spokesman, mr. Weis writes:“Part of the problem is the ambiguity: was she referring to Palestine as the whole of Israel? She might have but I doubt hers was the maximalist position. Even those who still advocate a two state solution as tenable should give her the benefit of the doubt unless she indicates otherwise”.

Benefit of doubt? He's barking mad. What Helen Thomas said is quite clear.

"Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine!"

"Remember, these people are occupied and it's their land, not Germany, and not Poland."

What ms. Thomas said precisely reflects what the "humanitarian" on the Mavi Marmara shouted at the Israelis: "Shut up! Go back to Auschwitz!"That thought informs much of the ideology behind the flotilla, behind the pro-Palestine politicians in Europe, and the anti-Israel activists in Berkeley and San Francisco.

As Zionation shows, there was NO ambiguity to what Helen Thomas said. She told the Jews to leave their ancient homeland, where Jewish life has been continuous for millennia, and emigrate to Poland, Germany, and America. Not to the stinking mellahs of the Arab world from which some were expelled in the Arab world's fit of hate that erupted upon Jewish independence in 1948, nor back to the ancient neighborhoods of Jerusalem, Tzfat, and Hebron that housed them for generations.Poland, Germany, and America.

Once again the sneering pustules of England have united to impose their twisted worldview.Is there NO hatred to which they will not stoop?

England, which likes to bill itself as the birthplace of democracy, and a liberal tolerant nation besides, delights in taking the lead when it comes to bigotry, political correctness, and promoting an intolerance of which both Stalin and Hitler would approve. Gone are the days when England was the world's brightest light, a bastion against the European darkness. Now what remains is quislingism, pettiness, and a shallowness of vision utterly terrifying in its limitation of scope, depth, or intelligence.

QUOTE:Describing Israel as a “rogue state,” a “terror state way beyond apartheid” and a “war state” with “no appetite for peace or coexistence,” Unite, Britain’s biggest trade union, voted last Thursday for a complete boycott of Israeli goods and services at its annual conference in Manchester.End quote.

Note this well: the one state which still maintains apartheid, Malaysia, has NEVER been condemned by the British - possibly because Malaysian Apartheid was engineered by the British, is still clothed in acceptable British legal phraseology, and is aimed at the two ethnicities which struggled against British hegemony: the Chinese and the Indians. Malaysia never fought the British; for their limpness and obsequium they are rewarded well, and they are a respected member of the Commonwealth.

QUOTE:The union, which has some two million members, will now “actively and vigorously” promote a boycott of Israeli goods and services “similar to the boycott of South Africa during the apartheid era,” as well as a policy of divestment from Israeli companies.End quote.

British unions have always had traitors among their ranks. During the cold war, the spies and mercenaries of the East-Bloc were coddled, supported, nurtured by the British left. Many of the fancy boys who accepted vodka and affection from Moscow's secret agents posted to the Court of St. James came from the ranks of 'Labour'.

QUOTE:Raymond Morrell, from the London and Eastern region of Unite’s Aerospace and Shipbuilding sector, described Israel as a “terror state” that goes “way beyond” what South Africa once was.End quote.

Raymond Morrell, who in a different world would probably be a bomb-throwing irredentist instead of merely a moral cripple, does not grasp the meaning of words.

In a region where terror is funded and encouraged by Arabs (ever a fetishistic fondness of British men), engineered by rabid religious fanatics, cheered by Pakistan, Turkey, and Iran, Israel is the only NON-TERROR state.

In a world where the Saudis still outlaw freedom of religion and import non-Muslims from Africa and Asia to work as domestics - in conditions often too horrible to detail - a world where Egypt semi-officially sanctions violence against Christians and Sudanese, a world where the whorehouses of the Gulf states and Lebanon are filled with the abused victims of Arab venality and sexism - Raymond Morrell shows his utter lack of a moral compass and his complete ethical deprivation by accusing the single country in the Middle East where women have equality and gays have rights of being worse than Britain's former favourite client, which even after the Boers took over bought arms and ammo from the English.

But then, what else could one expect from the British?

QUOTE:With no mention of rocket and mortar attacks on Israel, the motion called for an annulment of the European Union-Israel trade agreement and for sanctions to be imposed.End quote.

How precisely a reflection of English displeasure at having been kicked out of the Holy Land at the end of World War Two. The English do not soon forget their humiliation.It took until 1939 before they opportunistically forgave the United States for having rejected their colonial dictats, and even today the voices of anti-Americanism still ring loudest in the British Isles - despite their freedom being founded upon American resolve in the face of Hitler's fascism, Stalin's bombast, European hypocrisy and weakness, and Arab treachery.The English, like the French, are at heart "surrender monkeys", as their largest trade union, once again, demonstrates.Gentlemen! We really did not need another example! The history books are already filled with Albion's perfidy.

But it is remarkable how an upper-class distaste for Jews has translated into a virulent lower-class bigotry.Truly they are a "united" kingdom.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Forwarded by two (!) different extremist lesbians (not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that!) from an e-mail list to which I do not belong - nice Chinese American girls do not normally associate with frumps (no matter how striking or "charmingly" lubricious in a middle-aged Berkeley kind of way) - comes an e-mail I cannot wait to share with the world.

And I have to share it; white hippies playing guitars is something I shall not personally attend.Maybe you will?

Ballads about peace, love, bunny rabbits, and political activism sung by guitar strumming dippy women - that PROVES that they hate the world.

Frankly, I would rather be torn apart by camels than listen to crappy music at a gathering of the unwashed.Feh.

Join singer/activist Betsy Rose in a Singing For Peace gathering on Friday afternoon, June 4, at the Israeli Consulate and Montgomery BART station, to bring the power and healing of song into the mix of voices that are being raised in response to the Gaza attack. Please bring signs that focus on peace, nonviolence, and hope. Also any song sheets or ideas for songs.For info email betsy@betsyrosemusic.org

Saturday, June 5th 11amMass MobilizationSan Francisco, Civic Center

If you'd like to volunteer at the CODEPINK peace altar or contribute to the altar (bring frilly items to add or a pair of shoes) contact codepink.rae@gmail.com (415) 994-1723

[Sponsored by: Al Awda-Palestine Right to Return Coalition, ANSWER Coalition-Act Now to Stop War & End Racism, Palestine Youth Network, American Muslims for Palestine, U.S. Palestinian Community Network, International Solidarity Movement, International Socialist Organization (ISO), Arab Resource & Organizing Center, Arab Youth Organization, Muslim Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, General Union of Palestinian Students, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Youth and Student ANSWER, Middle East Children's Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Bay Area Committee to End Israeli Freedom, Arab Community and Cultural Center, World Can't Wait, and various other morons, including Moonbeam, Becker, Schmidt, Haskell, plus mr. Kanter and Ms. Raphael.]

Yes, I really hope someone disrupts Miss/Mr. Betsy Rose's hootenanny. Even the business types in the financial district do not deserve that torture. They too are human.Dysfunctional women wailing melodiously about healing, oh boy.But as I said, I won't be there. I have delicate sensibilities.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

There comes a timeWhen we need to make a showFor the world, the Web and CNNThere's no people dying,so the best that we can doIs create the greatest bluff of all

We must go on pretending day by dayThat in Gaza, there's crisis, hunger and plagueCoz the billion bucks in aid won't buy their basic needsLike some cheese and missiles for the kids

We'll make the worldAbandon reasonWe'll make them all believe that the HamasIs Momma TheresaWe are peaceful travelersWith guns and our own knivesThe truth will never find its way to your TV

Ooooh, we'll stab them at heartThey are soldiers, no one caresWe are small, and we took some pictures with dovesAs Allah showed us, for facts there's no demandSo we will always gain the upper hand

We'll make the worldAbandon reasonWe'll make them all believe that the HamasIs Momma TheresaWe are peaceful travelerswe're waving our own knivesThe truth will never find its way to your TV

If Islam and terror brighten up your moodBut you worry that it may not look so goodWell well well well don't you realizeYou just gotta call yourselfAn activist for peace and human aid

We'll make the worldAbandon reasonWe'll make them all believe that the HamasIs Momma TheresaWe are peaceful travelersWe're waving our own knivesThe truth will never find its way to your TV

We con the worldWe con the peopleWe'll make them all believe the IDF is Jack the RipperWe are peaceful travelersWe're waving our own knivesThe truth will never find its way to your TVWe con the world (Bruce: we con the world...)We con the people (Bruce: we con the people...)We'll make them all believe the IDF is Jack the RipperWe are peaceful travelersWe're waving our own knivesThe truth will never find its way to your TVThe truth will never find its way to your TV

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

San Francisco Loves Israel. A diverse group gathered Wednesday June 2 in front of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco to show solidarity with Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. 20,000 people are expected later this week at "Israel in the Gardens", celebrating Israel's 62 years of democracy, diversity and innovation.

Israeli and U.S. flags waved over Montgomery Street in front of San Francisco’s Israeli consulate on Wednesday afternoon. Days after Israeli military personnel were attacked while boarding a ship bound to break the blockade of Gaza, activists gathered to express their support for peace, democracy and the State of Israel.

A diverse and lively crowd of about seventy-five held up signs declaring “Israel Wants Peace”, “Peace Begins With Recognizing Israel”, and “Stop Demonizing Israel”. Music for the event was provided by a local DJ, a Samoan-American lover of Israel and Israeli music with an enviable collection of Hebrew-language pop, techno and hip-hop. Young and old danced to the music and waved signs and flags.

Many in attendance contrasted the joyous, upbeat atmosphere with the previous day’s protest. On Tuesday, Israel’s supporters faced a large and hostile crowd gathered in front of the consulate. A day later, there was a celebratory vibe on Montgomery Street as the crowd waved their white and blue banners.

[Sarcasm alert] BECAUSE TERROR IS THE NEW 'DEMOCRACY'! [End sarcasm alert]

From the BBC:About 120 activists arrived in Jordan via the Allenby crossing in the morning to cheers and applause from supporters.The activists, from Arab and Muslim nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Pakistan, were due to travel on to Amman, from where they would travel to their respective countries.End quote.

Malaysia still practices a vicious form of racism and apartheid against the Chinese who have been there for generations, in some cases longer than the 'original Malays', many of whom are descended from Sumatrans, Javans, and Bugis who immigrated during the British colonial period; Indonesia has Muslim fanatics who massacred Christians in Ambon and animists in Borneo, in Jihad campaigns that still fester - their alleged counter-terror operations concentrate mainly on preventing their Islamicists from destroying the tourist industry.

Bahrain, like many Gulf States, has business men and clerics who channel funds for AlQaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and various other Jihadi causes; Kuwait presents the same scenario - they resent the Western World, even after having their char-siu saved during Saddam's day; Pakistan is filled with thieves and murderers with impeccable Muslim credentials, and remains the main source of Terrorism in the civilized world, aside from having an intelligence service that is heavily involved in Jihad and an intelligentsia which spews conspiracy theories, Islamic hatred of America, and venom against Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Ahmadis.

Ireland has replaced their love of Celto-Fascist thugs with a fanatical love of anti-Semites and revolutionaries in the third world; Turkey is hand in glove with Jihadi charities funding Hamas and Al-Qaeda in Iraq; and Holland so tolerates Islamic radicals that it supports them with state funds.

Note that the next terror-ship to attempt to break Israel's blockade comes from Ireland - a country which makes up for it's relatively short history of Jew-hate by being that much more enthusiastic and mis-informed.

The Turkish role in spreading Islamic radicalism is, by now, self-evident. That country should be expelled from NATO as soon as possible, though doing so would probably hasten the time when the Turks use our own weapons against us. Turkey is once again positioning itself as the head of the Islamic umma, and the Ghazi mentality has come back tenfold since the days when the Turks still paid lip-service to secularism and civilized values.

The Dutch harbor so many angry Muslims, mainly Arabs and Turks, that their entire nation is at risk - the Socialist Party ('Socialistische Partij') has already seen the light and collaborates at every opportunity with the future masters of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, while the old mainline Socialists (Dutch Labor Party - Partij van de Arbeid) still maintains a modest pretense at Dutch values, albeit only their own rather eccentric interpretation thereof.

[Dutch Hamas leader was there - By Bart OlmerAmsterdam - The Dutchman Amin Abou Rashed (43), arrested by Israeli commandos on board of the "Freedom Flotilla" in front of the coast of Gaza, is, according to intelligence services, a head of the Hamas terror-organization.]

[The originally Palestinian Rashed has a Dutch passport and operates out of Rotterdam. In his fight against Israel the Dutch activist earlier lost an arm. The Dutchman is identified as one of the organizers behind the "Freedom Flotilla" on the website of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organization that battles for Islamic domination.]

NOTE: Rotterdam is one of the bastions of the European Arab community as well as the radical pro-Hamas activists in the Netherlands. The Muslim Brotherhood has been implicated in numerous terror attempts, terror attacks, and the financing and material support of terrorists and terror organizations. Tariq Ramadan, grandson of the founder, is the frequent apologist for their activities, although he maintains that he is not a terror supporter - many Europeans passively (or passionately - depends on their politics) allow him his plausible deniability. The Muslim Brotherhood is funded by rich Arabs in the Gulf, politicians and businessmen in many Arab countries such as Egypt and Jordan, and sluiced proceeds from the drug trade in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey.

["Rashed is the leader of Hamas in the Netherlands", says a source. "Under the alias Amin Abou Ibrahim he shows up in a number of intelligence reports; he worked for the notorious Dutch Al Aqsa Foundation, suspected of raising funds for the Hamas terror-organization. He is also very active in the foundation 'Palestinian Platform for Human Rights and Solidarity", according to the intelligence spokesman.]

[Hamas has, as their source of funds, numerous Islamic "charitable foundations" around the world. The Dutchman Amin Abou Rashed is named in connection with the Holy Land Foundation, a notorious charitable organization that was terminated in the United States because of their financing of terror.]

Unfortunately, the "tolerant" Dutch harbour many more people like him. According to many people in that country, such folks enrich Dutch society and provide a refreshing alternative point of view.

One of them prayed for years to become a martyr, according to his wife. The second was an adherent of a radical Islamic organization, the third worked for terrorist-linked IHH and reportedly had ties to AlQaeda.